Substitute Teacher
An almost empty hallway
smelling faintly of crayons
and whatever they use on the gym floor.
Classroom, dark and quiet,
lesson plans laid on the desk.
I write my name on the board,
the pronunciation in parentheses beside it.
Students will arrive soon
to teach me
if I belong here.
*
Todd Wynn is a nurse from Mansfield, Ohio. His poems have previously appeared in ONE ART.
Oh that last line!
You capture it exactly.
Yes! I substitute teach and this is really great – I, too, love that last line. I am always educated by the students.